(^12) ABCOctober 2017busnews.com.au
OPTARE ANNOUNCES
BIG BUS DELIVERY
Optare has marked its recent
rebirth in the Australasian market
with the announcement of a major
order for more than 100 buses
to service the Greater Wellington
region in New Zealand.
The huge deal was announced
by Australasian Optare distributor
Bus Corp Oceania recently. The
order of 114 Optare Metrocity buses,
worth more than $36 million (NZ$
million), is from New Zealand bus
operator Tranzit Coaches.
There will be buses deployed
throughout the Greater Wellington
region from the CBD all the way up
to Palmerston North.
The fi rst of the Optare Metrocity
buses is due to be delivered and on
the roads in New Zealand in March
2018, with the entire 114 bus order
set to be fulfi lled by June 2018.
The deal is Optare’s biggest ever
single export order. The 114 bus
order is for Euro-6 Optare Metrocity
buses, which were chosen by Tranzit
Coaches for their low weight as well
as their ability to generate signifi cant
tax and fuel savings and the overall
low cost of operation.
Bus Corp Oceania general
manager Jason Pecotic says the
low weight from the monocoque
construction means the Metrocity
offers 30 per cent more seating
capacity while still fi tting within New
Zealand’s 12-tonne GVM tax bracket.
Above:Tranzit
Coaches has
placed a
major order
for 114 Optare
Metrocity
buses similar to
this one
Right:Ross
Thompson is
now Bus Corp
Oceania’s
aftersales
manager
“Optare’s monocoque design saves
around 900kg in weight, meaning it
generates more payload while saving
the operator money,” he says.
“In this case we estimate that
the Metrocity will deliver savings
of around $4000 per bus per
year for Tranzit before taking into
account double digit savings in fuel
consumption and operating costs.”
The order will see a mix of 10.
and 10.8-metre Metrocity buses
deployed on a wide range of
routes including city, suburban and
semi-rural operations.
The Optares use the
latest-technology Mercedes-Benz
drivelines, ensuring low emissions
and the highest levels of effi ciency,
and are eco-friendly.
Tranzit Coachlines has operated
for more than 90 years and is New
Zealand’s largest family-owned
coach company and currently
operates a fl eet of more than of
1000 buses.
BCO has also announced it has
appointed Trucks & Trailers NZ as the
service dealer and parts distributor
for Optare buses in New Zealand.
“With Optare’s Euro 5 buses
running Mercedes-Benz drivelines,
particularly this large new order for
Tranzit, it was vital that we ensure
the correct backup and aftersales
support for our bus customers across
New Zealand, and Trucks & Trailers is
the perfect fi t as our partner in New
Zealand,” Pecotic says.
In other Optare news, Bus Corp
Oceania has announced the
appointment of Ross Thompson as
aftersales manager. He comes to
the role after 13 years with Volgren,
where he fulfi lled a number of roles,
most recently as national aftersales
manager, responsible for all Volgren
and Marcopolo aftersales as well as
managing the company’s Victorian
workshop and parts facility.
“Ross has an exceptional
reputation in the bus industry and
the knowledge and expertise which
he has gained working with major
fl eets around the country and in
overseas markets will be invaluable
as Optare builds its market presence
in Australia and New Zealand,”
Pecotic says.
Thompson is a qualifi ed diesel
mechanic and completed his
training in the Australian Defence
Force. After leaving the army he
spent 15 years at a truck and
trailer repair workshop, rising from
mechanic to fi eld service, then
into service reception and service
management. He began with
Volgren in 2004, managing its
Dandenong service centre before
moving to the role of technical
manager for its Marcopolo brand,
which included quality inspections
on vehicles as they came off the line.
“Optare’s monocoque
design ... generates more
payload while saving the
operator money”
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